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He’s known internationally as the world’s longest serving Minister of Foreign Affairs – one of the more liberal National Party veterans and a man not afraid to go where others feared to tread… But there’s another side to this larger than life character - philosopher, amateur geologist, deep thinker, poet, writer, proud father and grandfather…
Life goes by in a flash. It’s hard to grasp the concept of time. After all what’s an entity with no beginning or end – the mind boggles. I suppose even our universe must have an end. At least we can more or less work out the beginning. The church didn’t like my theories on the origins of man – after all for over a thousand years they repressed all knowledge of it. I find it amazing that even today people can doubt evolution or Darwin. And I still can’t understand how churches preclude women from the same positions as men. I think they’re afraid of women…
Speaking your mind isn’t a bad thing. There were many times when I made myself unpopular with my words. In 1970 in my maiden speech in parliament I urged the then National Party to subscribe to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I wasn’t allowed to speak in parliament for almost two years after that. And then in 1986 after I said during an interview that we could have a black president in the future, I was severely reprimanded and almost fired. But within the party the remorse in hearts and minds was growing and soon became intolerable, coupled with our acknowledgement that if we perpetuate apartheid, inevitably it would result in the destruction of the country.
In any negotiating process you must analyse and study the motives of your opponent. When I was trying to negotiate a settlement with the Cubans over Namibia I knew I had to understand the motives of my opponent, Cuban negotiator Jorge Risquet. He told me they were going to introduce 15000 more Cuban troops. I replied then we’d introduce a thousand more South African troops. This was going nowhere. I then said we could both be winners here. He thought I was joking. You have to get into someone’s mindset on what they want to achieve. This creates empathy and understanding of what you are up against. I knew Castro couldn’t just withdraw his troops - he had to show his people it was worthwhile – that there was an achievement. I said if I could commit that Namibia would become independent then I saw no reason why Castro couldn’t withdraw his troops as his overall purpose had been achieved. Then I could tell white South Africa I had got rid of the Cubans and we are both winners… After quite a few more meetings both sides signed the Tripartite Accord which ultimately led to negotiations starting to release Mandela.
Nelson Mandela’s legacy must never be forgotten. I first met Nelson Mandela at the historic meeting between the former Government and the ANC at Groote Schuur on 2nd May 1990. I couldn’t believe his remarkably thorough knowledge of Afrikaner history, the pain and suffering of the women and children who died in concentration camps and the poverty that followed. He asked me a question I was never able to answer. Why, when the Afrikaner started recovering from his devastation, didn’t he reach out to his fellow black South Africans, who were equally impoverished, degraded and subjugated? He said this without rancour or enmity. This, from a man who had suffered in prison for 27 years. If only we could live up to his ideals that all South Africans, irrespective of colour, should live together in harmony with equal opportunities.
There’s a bigger threat to the world than any war today – climate change. This is a more lethal threat than even the Cold War, where the world was faced with nuclear bombs. But at least then the Americans, Russians and western leaders came together to avoid pressing those buttons which saved the world at the time. I don’t see any leaders now who will press the buttons to stop climate change!
People should appreciate women for their beauty and their power. Few women know how much power they wield. The way they speak, walk, and behave – it’s very appealing. It’s the combination of hair, eyes and lips. That’s a make-or-break picture, dangerous, enchanting. I knew some very powerful women in politics – the cheeky young Helen Suzman and of course the one and only Evita Bezuidenhout. I’ve been doubly blessed by having had two amazing women in my life, my late wife Helena and my wife today Ina – I don’t deserve them.
Retirement gives you time to enjoy your family. I regret the time I spent away from my family – you can never get that back. But now it’s enriching to spend time with them. I’m trying to make up for what I’ve lost. My children are all so different, from my eldest son, Roelof who’s a doctor of economics, to Pieter, a rock musician and my artistic daughters, photographer Lien and artist Anna. I’m very proud of all them who’ve achieved so much individually. Your children and grandchildren are your greatest asset in life.
This country must belong to all people. In 1998 I came around from a prostate cancer operation to find President Mandela standing next to my bed in ICU. He told me not to worry, to relax – get well and carry on. He’s an unfathomable human being with a will to make South Africa a country that belongs to all its people, driven by the realisation that we need one another to make this country a success. When we sat down to negotiations before 1994 we agreed that steps would have to be taken to assist the previously disadvantaged in education, health services, agriculture and other fields but to date offers of assistance have been largely ignored. There are people with a wealth of experience, including myself, ready and willing to step in and help if requests were made. I’d be happy to sit with anyone, including Julius Malema and help find solutions.
On Blue Bulls and winning… I love rugby and played in the first team at high school in Potchefstroom. But I don’t understand the emotions that people waste on the game. Winning doesn’t make you richer, poorer or more healthy. It reminds me of cave men fighting over their spoils – it’s a primal urge. I tell myself before a big game I’m not going to be upset if we (read Blue Bulls) lose – I tell myself it’s a game and I’m lucky to be able to watch it. But I have to add I’d feel better if they won…
